cqaigy2
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That was a nice video.
Great lake boats, a good video
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ArlyA
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A review of the Great Lakes fleet who is based in Duluth MN. My spousal unit is a grad of St. Scholastica also located there.
5030
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Interestingly, Interlake Steamship Company's general offices are in (I think), Olmsted Falls or Berea, Ohio (I spent a good part of my adult life there) and I never knew that until just this year.
Probably drove past many times and never knew it.
Probably drove past many times and never knew it.
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ArlyA
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Here is a Saginaw upbound at the Soo all lite up for Christmas. This guys hand held films are not the best! 
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The American integrity leaving Duluth on January 8th.
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Potential popsickle...
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I triple dog dare you...
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Being a longshoreman this time of year is always a pizzer. In a way I'm glad I never worked on a boat except in dry dock. I could have but didn't. Well, not really in dry dock. When we rebuilt the pow thrusters and had to get in the tunnel, we flooded the aft tanks and raised the bow out of the water and when we did stern work, did the same but with the forward ballast tanks. Most times I was working inside the double bottom or welding plates. Back then it was all stick welding, wire wasn't even thought of.
When they made the reactor vessels for the N plant out by Painesville, the contractor who fabbed them and welded them rented space from GW on the west side of the railroad bridge that went over Carter road. Was a California outfit, I cannot remember the name but they erected a large metal building that was mounted on rails and built the vessels on a platform inside, also on rails that led to the edge of the water. I used to stop in and watch them TIG weld the stainless parts and then x ray them. Pretty interesting to watch. A Japanese guy did most of the welding and he really laid down some beautiful welds. When each vessel was done, they brought in a barge and a huge crane and lifted them onto the barge. I got to see some very interesting stuff back then.
One time some outfit was scrapping a span that was next to the lift bridge and I'll never forget when the crane operator was cabled to part of it and the cutters cut it loose and it was too heavy for the crane so the crane and the cut part went in the river, well the cut part did. The crane operator was suddenly looking at the ground because the crane went up on it's front end. I bet he pooped his pants.
I was also there when they built the parking structure next to the courthouse on Lakeside Avenue. They staged the steel in a parking lot next to the shoreway and had a huge Vicon there lifting the beams over the railroad tracks and up the elevation to the garage. The operator of the Vicon did everything by 2 way radio as he had no line of sight as to where the beams were being placed and the Vicon was completely air over hydraulic control. Amazing stuff but then I always enjoyed mechanical stuff. Still do actually. I'm sure the operator was in the operating engineers union and made huge bucks. GW was sub contracted to provide some of the structural tie plates and provide the welders the crew used so I got down there quite often. Got to watch the erectors dancing around on the beams too. Back then, no safety harness, nothing, just balls of steel. If I remember correctly, most of the guys were American Indians.
In Cleveland back then, no non union 'scab' workers were allowed on any job. I know every time I was there, I was asked for my union card before I could even set foot on the site. GW was 100% union as well. Longshoreman Union, AFofL/CIO.
When they made the reactor vessels for the N plant out by Painesville, the contractor who fabbed them and welded them rented space from GW on the west side of the railroad bridge that went over Carter road. Was a California outfit, I cannot remember the name but they erected a large metal building that was mounted on rails and built the vessels on a platform inside, also on rails that led to the edge of the water. I used to stop in and watch them TIG weld the stainless parts and then x ray them. Pretty interesting to watch. A Japanese guy did most of the welding and he really laid down some beautiful welds. When each vessel was done, they brought in a barge and a huge crane and lifted them onto the barge. I got to see some very interesting stuff back then.
One time some outfit was scrapping a span that was next to the lift bridge and I'll never forget when the crane operator was cabled to part of it and the cutters cut it loose and it was too heavy for the crane so the crane and the cut part went in the river, well the cut part did. The crane operator was suddenly looking at the ground because the crane went up on it's front end. I bet he pooped his pants.
I was also there when they built the parking structure next to the courthouse on Lakeside Avenue. They staged the steel in a parking lot next to the shoreway and had a huge Vicon there lifting the beams over the railroad tracks and up the elevation to the garage. The operator of the Vicon did everything by 2 way radio as he had no line of sight as to where the beams were being placed and the Vicon was completely air over hydraulic control. Amazing stuff but then I always enjoyed mechanical stuff. Still do actually. I'm sure the operator was in the operating engineers union and made huge bucks. GW was sub contracted to provide some of the structural tie plates and provide the welders the crew used so I got down there quite often. Got to watch the erectors dancing around on the beams too. Back then, no safety harness, nothing, just balls of steel. If I remember correctly, most of the guys were American Indians.
In Cleveland back then, no non union 'scab' workers were allowed on any job. I know every time I was there, I was asked for my union card before I could even set foot on the site. GW was 100% union as well. Longshoreman Union, AFofL/CIO.
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ArlyA
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I nice video just released of the Walter J. McCarthy departing Superior, Wisconsin on the morning of January 13, 2022 with a load of iron ore. He is running with nearly 30ft of draft and shows the ice and why tugs get put into service to help them. Both to break it and push the boats since thrusters tend to then get plugged..
Copied from the description
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The video starts with footage of the tugboat Edward H. doing ice breaking around the McCarthy and in the area where the McCarthy would be backing out and making her turn before heading onto Lake Superior. As the McCarthy backs out, the Edward H. take up positing to help her make the turn, giving her stern a push to help swing her around. As she turns, we get a good view of the ice that accumulated on the McCarthy's bow from her previous crossing of Lake Superior, where the right combination of wind, waves, and cold temperatures caused water to spray onto her hull and freeze. As the McCarthy make her way through the canal, she sounded a captain's salute as a farewell to the couple of people who came to wave goodbye. The radio exchange between the McCarthy and the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge has been included in this video. While ships entering and exiting the Superior Entry do not require a lift, as there is no bridge on this side, they are still required to contact the bridge. The bridge logs them in and out of the harbor, keeping records of how long ships were in the harbor. Sadly, this final trip of the season was marked by tragedy for the McCarthy's crew. While at anchor outside of Gary, Indiana on January 17 waiting for their turn to unload, second mate Richard Gray died in an accident onboard the McCarthy. He was only 35 years old, leaving behind a wife and three children. At the time I am uploading this video, there is a fundraiser established to assist Richard's family with the difficult road ahead. If you wish to help out, you may donate by visiting this link: https://gofund.me/11cd24f9 (Note: I have no affiliation with the fundraiser, other than helping to spread the word.) This video is dedicated to Richard Gray and all sailors who have lost their lives on the Great Lakes.
Copied from the description
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The video starts with footage of the tugboat Edward H. doing ice breaking around the McCarthy and in the area where the McCarthy would be backing out and making her turn before heading onto Lake Superior. As the McCarthy backs out, the Edward H. take up positing to help her make the turn, giving her stern a push to help swing her around. As she turns, we get a good view of the ice that accumulated on the McCarthy's bow from her previous crossing of Lake Superior, where the right combination of wind, waves, and cold temperatures caused water to spray onto her hull and freeze. As the McCarthy make her way through the canal, she sounded a captain's salute as a farewell to the couple of people who came to wave goodbye. The radio exchange between the McCarthy and the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge has been included in this video. While ships entering and exiting the Superior Entry do not require a lift, as there is no bridge on this side, they are still required to contact the bridge. The bridge logs them in and out of the harbor, keeping records of how long ships were in the harbor. Sadly, this final trip of the season was marked by tragedy for the McCarthy's crew. While at anchor outside of Gary, Indiana on January 17 waiting for their turn to unload, second mate Richard Gray died in an accident onboard the McCarthy. He was only 35 years old, leaving behind a wife and three children. At the time I am uploading this video, there is a fundraiser established to assist Richard's family with the difficult road ahead. If you wish to help out, you may donate by visiting this link: https://gofund.me/11cd24f9 (Note: I have no affiliation with the fundraiser, other than helping to spread the word.) This video is dedicated to Richard Gray and all sailors who have lost their lives on the Great Lakes.
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Couple noteworthy items. I see Walter is in dire need of a paint job, must have been a year of rubbing docks, not much hull paint left on her and did you notice how much cooling water the tug was expelling? Engines must have been working pretty hard. I wonder what the black is in the port side right in front of the superstructure? Kind of odd.
Those pictures brings back memories for me as to how cold they are inside the double bottoms in the winter. Good video however.
Those pictures brings back memories for me as to how cold they are inside the double bottoms in the winter. Good video however.
